Cotton-chopper.



No. 819,066. PATENTED MAY 1, 1906. H. HBRROLD.

COTTON CHOPPER.

APPLICATION JUNE 26, 1905.

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PATENTED MAY 1, 1906.

H. HERROLD. COTTON CHOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED mm: 26, 1905.

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COTTON CHOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED mums. 1905.

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PATENTED MAY 1, 1906.

H. HERROLD.

GOTTON CHOPPER.

APPLICATION rum) JUNE 26, 1905.

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H. HERROLD. COTTON CHOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1905.

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PATBNTED MAY 1, 1906.

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No. 819,066. PATENTED MAY 1, 1906. H. HERROLD.

COTTON CHOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED .nmnza, 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COTTON-CHOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

irazenteci May 1, 1906.

Application filed June 26, 1905. Serial No. 267,075-

To an! ZUI'I/ONZ/ it 'lnrlq concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM Hnnnonn, a citizen of the'United States,residing at Luther, in the county of Oklahoma and Territory of Oklahoma,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton- Choppersand I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to cotton-choppers or machines for thinning orcutting out the surplus plants in rows of young cotton or other growths,wherein the chopping-tool is actuated by a moving part of the machine tocut through the row at proper intervals say every twelve or eighteeninches insuring to the remaining plants a better chance for thrivinggrowth and development. The chief objects and advantages thereof are asfollows: first, flexibility of construction, allowing relative movementof the assembled parts of the machine, whereby the machine is evenly andeasily drawn, less affected by the unevenness of the ground, and thechopping mechanism is caused to act at a substantially uniform depth inthe soil and is more readily guided to follow the row notwithstandingthe uneven movement of the drivewheels of the implement; second, perfectcontrol of the steering, means being provided whereby the course of themachine can be controlled by the feet of the operator and quicklychanged without depending upon the team for this purpose, leaving thedrivers hands free for the management of the team; third, provision forlifting the front end of the machine, together with the choppers, out ofthe ground when desired, as in turning at the end of a row, and improvedmeans for gaging the depth of penetration of the choppers, and, fourth,provision of improved chopping mechanism and connections operatingefficiently upon the row and whereof the clmppingblades are adapted toyield in case of striking any hard obstruction.

The invention will be fully described with reference to theaccompanyingv drawings, which form a part of this specification, andwill then be particularly pointed out and defined in the appendedclaims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a side viewshowing the machine in the act of having its front part raised. Fig. 4is a longitudinal vertical section of the machine shown with its frontpart raised. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the machine, taken behindthe chopping mechanism and looking toward the front. Fig. 6 is a detailview of an arm connected to-the chopping hoe or tool and forming part ofthe mechanism for maintaining the tool in proper relation. Fig. 7 is aside view of one of the hoes. Fig. Sis a front view thereof. Fig. 9 is afront view of the arm shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a detail view of twolinks which are connected with each hoe andwith a spring for holding thehoe in yielding position. Fig. 11 is a detail view of the tongue of themachine. Fig. 12 is a detail view of the lever employed for lifting thefront end of the machine. Fig. 13 is a detail view of a bar arrangedunder the tongue, together with parts connected with said bar. F ig. 14is a perspective view of the main portion of the framework of themachine. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a construction of lovers andlinks for regulating the height of the gage-wheels.

The letter A indicates the main drivewheels of the machine fixedlymounted upon the revoluble shaft or axle B, from which motion istransmitted to the choppers. Said shaft B supports a main outside framecomprising side bars C C and a rear cross-bar C, the frame being alsobraced by an upstanding yoke C near the rear thereof, and by a frontcross-bar C, and also by a cross-bar C", connecting-standards C andbracerods C, rising from the forward. ends of the main frame-bars (.7.The construction is shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 14. Between theside beams C C of the outside frame and extending under and forwardlythereof is an inside frame comprising side bars D D and cross-bars D DCSaid inside frame is pivotally connected to the outside frame by meansof the cross-bar C, which is a round rod journaled in or on the sidebars D of the inside frame and attached to the side bars C of theoutside frame. This mode of connection allows an up-and-down movement ofthe inside frame relative to the drive-wheels A, the front end of theoutside frame being adapted to oscillate or swing up and down as theinside frame moves over irregular ground, while the inside frame mayalso turn on its pivotal axle C. The purpose of this will appear later.

The inside frame is mounted on gage- ITO wheels E E, arranged fore andaft of said frame, which thus supports the forward end of the outsideframe. Said inside frame also carries the choppin mechanism, comprisingrevolvin hoes or b ades F F, carried by the opposite y-cranked portionsof a crank-shaft G, which is arranged longitudinally of the machine androtatably mounted in suitable bearings, as in the cross-bars D D of'theinside frame. Said shaft G carries a balancewheel G at its rear end, andat its frontend has a bevel gear-wheel G meshing with a bevel-gear G ona cross-shaft G, to which motion is transmitted from the driving axle orshaft B by means of a sprocket-chain G passing around suitablesprocket-wheels on the shafts B and G. In order to keep thesprocket-chain at the proper tension, the

same is passed over idle sprockets G one of which may be verticallyadjustable in a slotted hanger depending from the outside frame.

7 It will thus be observed that the inside frame carrying, thecotton-choppers is independently supported, and by reason of itscapability of pivotal movement with respect to the outside framecarrying the drive-wheels the machine as a whole is practicallyunaffected by the ordinary inequalities in the surface of the ground andadvantageous flexibility or capacity of relatively vertical movementbetween the wheels and choppers is obtained. This construction allowsthe choppers to maintain a more nearly uniform operation upon the plantsthan in those prior machines in which the assembled parts form a rigidWhole without provision for relative movement, except, perhaps, anadjusting movement of the choppers, the choppers being carried by arigid frame supported by the main drive-wheels.

Means must be provided for regulating the choppers-that is, for movingthem into and out of operative relation with the soil and determiningthe depth to which they shall strikefor which purpose thepivotally-connected inside carrying-frame is made adjustable withrespect to the ground, as follows:

The gage-wheels E E are mounted on adjustable axles which are pivotallyconnected, by means of links H, with cross-rods H, extending betweenhangers on the under sides of the frame-bars D. The axle of each pair ofgage-wheels is also connected, by means of a link H to a crank arm orlever H said crank arm or lever extending rigidly from a cross-rod orrock-shaft H, mounted on said side bars D. Both cross-rods or shafts Hare provided with upstanding arms or levers H at one side, and said armsH are connected by links H and H with an actuating-lever H pivotallyconnected to the outside frame, near the rear end thereof, in reach ofthe drivers seat J, said drivers seat being suitably supported upon therear portion of the outside frame. (See Figs. 1, 2, 3,

14, and 15.) When the lever H in the em bodiment illustrated is pulledback toward the drivers seat, the gage-wheels E E will be forceddownwardly away from the inner frame, and hence the choppers will beraised accordingly from the ground, and in this way the elevation of theinside frame, together with the choppers carried thereby, canbecontrolled at will. By providing for the lever H the usual segmentalrack and look, as indicated at H", the position of the gage-wheels withrespect to the inner frame may be exactly adjusted and fixed, andthereby the depth of the chopping determined.

Mounted in the rear end of the outside frame C C is a cross-shaft K,having at one end or at the side of the machine a rigidmanipulating-lever K thereon. The shaft K is provided with rigid arms Khaving pivotal link connections with the side bars D D of the insideframe. By means of this lever the rear end of the inside frame may betemporarily raised with respect to the outside frame, as may bedesirable in turning.

In connection with the arrangement just described for lifting the rearend of the inside frame means is also provided for lifting the entirefront of the machine by the draft-pole or tongue L, the forward end ofwhich is supported by the team, while its rear portion is adjustablyconnected to the machine and provided with mechanism for lifting it inthe man ner now to be explained. Said tongue is supported upon the upperfront cross-rod C and is connected thereto by an eyebolt L, said eyeboltpassing vertically through the tongue to provide a swivel connection andallow free lateral oscillation of the tongue and having its eyepivotally engaging the cross-rod C, thus allowing vertical oscillationof the tongue also. Directly beneath the tongue, arranged longitudinallyof the machine, is a bar M, which may be formed of two thicknesses ofstrapiron. At its front end this bar has a pivotal connection with themiddle of the cross-rod C, as by means of a loose engagement with theswivel-bolt L. At its rear end said longitudinal bar M is supported bythe transverse upstanding yoke C and is movable on said yoke back andforth across the machine, as and for the purposes hereinafter explained,the yoke C being curved to allow this movement of the bar. Secured tothe rear end of the bar M is an upstanding vertical guideway N, withinwhich the rear end of the tongue is adapted to move up and down. Themeans for lifting the rear end of the tongue consists of the bent leverO, which is intermediately fulcrumed at O on a rear down-curvedextension of the bar M and has its lower end connected with the tongueby the links 0 Said lever may be further connected at its ower end withthe bar M by means of two inks O and 0 which are ivotally connectedtogether. This lever 8 being arranged medially of the machine isdirectly in front of the drivers seat. lVhen the lever is pulled clearback, the links 0 and O straighten out and tend to aid in holding thelever forced backward. The forward end of the tongue being supported bythe team pulling the ma chine and the tongue being pivoted or fulcrumedon the cross-bar C1, it is evident that pulling back on the lever 0 willraise the rear end of the tongue, and thereby lift the entire front ofthe machine by means of the eycbolt connection L with the framework ofthe ma chine at the front. Thus when desired both the front and rear ofthe machine, except the main drive-wheels A, may be raised clear of theground by means of the levers K and O.

The means for guiding the machine by the feet of the driver is alsooperative upon the tongue in the following manner: Rigid with the rearportion of the bar M is a fork M, whose arms are suitably braced by thecrossbar M and are slidable upon the yoke (1, preferably by means ofrollers M and said arms M are formed rearwardly with footrests M. Theyoke C is of course shaped as a curve or are with the swivel-bolt L as acenter. The driver, sitting in the seat J, places his feet upon thefoot-rests M", and thereby he can swing the framework of the machine toone side or the other relative to the tongue, so that the course of themachine can be quickly and temporarily changed without depending uponthe team for this purpose, thus making it easier to accurately followthe row than could be done if the tongue were mounted rigidly upon themachine. In most cotton-chopping machines in addition to the choppersfor thinning out the row the implement is provided with disks or otherdevices for throwing away the soil from the sides of the row, andobviously the machine must be guided accurately to conform with the rowor else the plants would be plowed out of the ground. The feature of myinvention just described provides for the accomplishment of this objectof accurately guiding the machine in accordance with the row.

The inner chopper carrying frame may also carry suitable disks, plows,or other devices ior throwing the soil away from the row and these maybe provided either in front or in rear of the choppers. As shown, a pairof disks P are arranged in the rear of the choppers, the said disksbeing carried by the curved standards P, depending from the rear of theinner frame, said disks serving to throw the earth away from each sideof the plants after they have been thinned out.

It will be understood that one choppinghoe may be sufficient, though Ipreferably employ a pair of such hoes, as shown, the said hoes revolvingand acting successively upon the row. Each of said hoes F comprises ablade or cutting-tool whose shank F is attached to a sleeve F rotatablymounted on the crank-shaft G and provided with means for keeping the hoein proper position and preventing it from rotating when coming intocontact with the ground. In other words, the hoes must of course revolvewhile main. taining a substantially constant upright or inclinedrelation to the soil, as shown in Fig.-

5. To this end each sleeve F has attached thereto an upstanding arm F,the upper end of which is pivotally connected, by means of a link F,with one of the side bars C of the outside frame. Hence it is evidentthat as the cranks revolve the hoes will revolve there with, actingsuccessively upon the row, but will not rotate on the axes of thesleeves F".

To prevent injury to the hoes in case of striking unyielding obstructionduring their operation, the hoeshanks are preferably allowed to turnrelative to the arms F, and said arms F are connected with the hoeshanksby a pair of pivotally-connected links F and having springs F actingupon said links in such manner as to hold the hoes in their properposition while yet allowing yielding thereof in the case of 'strikingany hard obstruction.

It will be seen that the objects of my invention, primarily stated, areeffectively accomplished by the construction described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a cottonehopper, the combination of two independent framesarranged one within the other and having a horizontal pivotal connectionat their front parts, a pair of drive wheels supporting one of saidframes, a movable chopping-tool carried by the other frame in advance ofsaid drivewheels, and means for actuating said chopping-tool from saiddrive-wheels.

2. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of two independent framesarranged together and having a horizontal pivotal connection at theirfront parts, a movable chopping-tool carried by one frame, gage-wheelssupporting said frame, a pair of drive-wheels supporting the otherframe, and means for operating said chopping-tool from saiddrive-wheels, the frame carrying the chopping-tool being adapted to moveup and down relative to the drivewheels.

3. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of an outside main frame, aninside frame inclosed thereby and having its front part pivotallyconnected to the front end of the outside frame on a horizontal axis,wheels supporting the inside frame, a movable choppingtool carried bysaid inside frame, a pair of drive-wheels supporting the rear end of theoutside frame, and means for operating said chopping-tool from saiddrive-wheels.

4. In a cotton-cln pper, the combination of the main frame andsupporting drive-wheels therefor attached to the rear part of saidframe, a cross-rod at the front end of said frame, and an independentlywheel-supported frame arranged within said main frame and having itsfront part pivotally attached to said cross-rod, a revolving choppingmechanism carried by the latter frame, and means for actuating saidmechanism from said drivewheels.

5. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame, a pair ofsupporting drivewheels therefor, an independently wheel-supported framecarrying a chopping mechanism, the latter frame having a pivotalconnection with the forward portion of the main frame allowing anindependent up and down movement of the chopper-carrying frame relativeto the drive-wheels, and means for operating said mechanism from saiddrivewheels.

6. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame and drive-wheelssupporting the rear end of said frame, an independently wheelsupportedchoppercarrying frame pivotally connected to the front end of the mainframe so as to allow up and down movement of the chopper-carrying framerelative to the drive-wheels, means for adjusting the chopper-carryingframe relative to its supportingwheels, and means for actuating thechopper mechanism from the supporting-wheels of the main frame.

7. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of an outside main frame, a pairof supporting drive-wheels therefor, an inside independently wheelsupported chopper carrying frame, a cross-rod attached to the front endsof both frames and establishing a pivotal connection between them,allowing a relative vertical oscillation of the frames, and mechanismfor actuating choppers from the drivewheels.

8. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame supported at itsrear end by a pair of drive-wheels, an independently wheel-supportedchopping mechanism arranged within and connected with the main frame soas to be capable of up and down movement relative thereto, means foractuating the choppers by the travel of the machine, means for adjustingthe chopping mechanism with relation to the supportingwheels thereof,and means for adjusting as a whole the said wheelsupported choppingmechanism with relation to the main frame, and means for lifting theentire chopping mechanism and front of the machine so as to cause theentire machine to travel on the drivewheels.

- 9. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame, a pair ofsupporting-wheels therefor at the rear of said frame, an independentlywheel-supported inside frame carhorizontal pivotal connection allowing aver= tical swinging movement of the one frame with respect to the other,and means mounted on the main frame for lifting the rear end of thechopper-carrying frame.

10. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame, a pair ofsupporting-wheels therefor, a tongue attached to said frame adapted tomove vertically, an independently wheel supported frame carryingchopping mechanism, the latter frame arranged within the former, meansfor operating said chopping mechanism by the travel of the machine, thetwo frames having a front horizontal pivotal connection allowing avertical swinging movement of the one frame with respect to the other, alever mounted on the main frame, and mechanism actuated by said leverfor lifting the rear end of the choppercarrying frame, and a lever onthe main frame and connections between the same and the tongue wherebythe entire front of the machine can be lifted and the entire machinecaused to travel on the drive-wheels.

11. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame, a pair ofsupporting drivewheels therefor, an independently wheel-supportedchopper-carrying frame, the forward portion of the main frame beingsupported by said chopper-carrying frame and having a horizontal pivotalconnection therewith allowing relative movement between the two frames,a cross-shaft mounted on the main frame, a manipulating-lever therefor,and rigid arms on said cross-shaft pivotally connected with the rear endof the chopper-carrying frame.

12. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame, a pair ofsupporting drivewheels therefor, a chopper-carrying frame pivotallyconnected with the forward portion of the main frame, thechopper-carrying frame thereby supporting the forward por tion of saidmain frame, gage-wheels for said chopper-carrying frame mounted onswinging axles, cross-shafts on the chopper-carry ing frame, havingcrank-arms connected with said axles and having other arms connected bylinks or rods with a lever mounted on the main frame, whereby theposition of the chopper-carrying frame relative to its gagewheels may beadjusted by said lever.

13. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame, a pair ofsupporting drivewheels therefor, an independently wheelsupportedchopper-carrying frame supporting the forward portion of the main frameand pivotally connected therewith, means .on the main frame for liftingthe rear portion of the chopper-carrying frame, a tongue having anintermediate fulcrum on the forward portion of the machine, the forwardpart of the tongue adapted to be supported by the team drawing themachine, and means mounted on the main frame for lifting the rear end ofthe tongue and thereby elevating the entire front of the machine.

14. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame, a pair ofsupporting drivewheels therefor, an independently wheel-sup portedchopper-carrying frame supporting the forward portion of the main frameand pivotally connected therewith to allow relative movement between theframes, means on the main frame for lifting the rear portion of-thechopper-carrying frame, a tongue having an intermediate fulcrum on theforward portion of the machine, the forward part of the tongue adaptedto be supported by the team drawing the machine, and means mounted 011the main frame for lifting the rear end of the tongue and therebyelevating the entire front of the machine, said means comprising anintermediately-fulcrumed lever one arm of which serves as a handle whilethe other arm is connected with the rear end of the tongue by links.

15. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a wheel-supported frame andchopping mechanism carried thereby, a tongue having an intermediatefulcrum on the forward portion of the machine, the forward part of thetongue adapted to be supported by the team drawing the machine, andmeans carried by the machine for lifting the rear end of the tongue andthereby elevating the front portion of the machine, the choppingmechanism being liftable therewith.

.16. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame and supportingdrive-wheels therefor, the main frame extending forwardly of saiddrive-wheels, a chopper-carrying frame arranged within said main frameand forwardly of said drive-wheels, there being a horizontal pivotalconnection between the front portion of the main frame and the choppercarrying frame, gage wheels supporting said chopper-carrying frame,whereby said chopper-carrying frame supports the front portion of themain frame, and means for operating the chopper mechanism from saiddrive-wheels.

17. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame and supportingdrive-wheels therefor, the main frame extending forwardly of said drive-wheels, a choppercarrying frame arranged within said main frame andforwardly of said drive-wheels, there being a horizontal pivotalconnection between the front portion of the main frame and thechopper-carrying frame, gage-wheels supporting said chopper-carryingframe, whereby said chopper-carrying frame supports the front portion ofthe main frame, and means for operating the chopper mechanism from saiddrive-wheels, means for adjusting the height of the cho per-carryingframe relative to its gage-wheefs, and a lever mounted on the main framefor operating said means.

18. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame and supportingdrive-wheels therefor, the main frame extending forwardly of saiddrive-wheels, a chopper-carrying frame arranged within said main frameand forwardly of said drive-wheels, there being a horizontal pivotalconnection between the front portion of the main frame and the choppercarrying frame, gage wheels supporting said chopper-carrying frame,whereby said chopper-carrying frame supports the front portion of themain frame, and means for operating the chopper mechanism from saiddrive-wheels, means for lifting the rear end of the chopper-earryingframe, and a lever operated on the main frame for operating said means.

19. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame and supportingdrive-wheels therefor, a wheel-supported chopper mechanism arrangedforwardly of said drivewheels, the frame of said chopper mechanismhaving a horizontal pivotal connection with the forward portion of themain frame, a tongue having an intermediate fulcrum on the forwardportion of the main frame, and means carried by said main frame andconnected with the rear end of the tongue for lifting said rear end ofthe tongue and thereby tilting up the forward end of the machine.

20. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a main frame, supportingdrive -wheels therefor, a wheel-simported frame arranged forwardly ofsaid drive-wheels and having a horizontal pivotal connection with theforward end of said main frame, a chopping mechanism carried by thelatter frame, means for operating said chopping mechanism by the travelof the machine, a tongue having an intermediate attachment to theforward end of the main frame and adapted to be moved vertically andhorizontally, a drivers seat on the main frame, means for moving.

the rear end of the tongue laterally, and a lever and connectionsmovable with the rear end of the tongue for lifting the same and therebytilting up the front portion of the machine.

21. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a wheel-supported frame,chopping mechanism carried thereby, means for operating the choppingmechanism by the drive-wheels of the machine, relatively fixedcultivating devices associated with the chopping mechanism, a driversseat mounted on the frame, a tongue having an intermediate swivelconnection with the forward portion of the machine, and means withinreach of the drivers seat for shifting the frame laterally with respectto the rear end of the tongue.

22. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a wheel-supported frame,chopping mechanism carried thereby, means for operating the choppingmechanism by the drivewheels of the machine, a drivers seat mounted onthe frame, a tongue having an intermediate swivel connection with theforward portion of the machine, a curved yoke extending across theframe, the rear end of the ton ue having a fork attached thereto whichis s idable on said yoke, and foot-rests attached to said fork andadapted for the drivers feet, whereby the driver can shift the framelaterally with respect to the rear end of the tongue.

23. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a crank, a cutting-toolhaving its shank loosely mounted on said crank, an arm connected withthe crank, a link pivotally connecting said arm with the frame of themachine, and a yieldable connection between said arm and shank of thetool for holding the tool yieldably in proper position.

24. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a crank, a cutting-toolhaving its shank loosely mounted on said crank, an arm loosely mountedon said crank, the shank of the cutting-tool being movable relatively tosaid arm, and a connection between said arm and the shank of the toolcomprising pivotally-connected links and a spring, thereby holding thetool in proper working position but allowing the connection to yieldwhen the tool strikes an obstruction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HIRAM HERROLD. Witnesses O. S. HARRIS, E. L. MANToR.

